The Stylist Splashhttp://thestylistsplash.com.au
Lifestyle, Interiors, Design, Colour and Style BlogMon, 12 Nov 2018 02:05:23 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8http://thestylistsplash.com.au/wp-admin/post.php?post=6&action=edit&message=1http://thestylistsplash.com.auThe Stylist Splash stylistsplashhttps://feedburner.google.com4 Things You Might be Doing Wrong In The Gardenhttp://thestylistsplash.com.au/4-things-you-might-be-doing-wrong-in-the-garden/
http://thestylistsplash.com.au/4-things-you-might-be-doing-wrong-in-the-garden/#respondThu, 01 Nov 2018 12:59:45 +0000http://thestylistsplash.com.au/?p=14451Winter is well and truly behind us and all over Australia people are getting into their gardens once more to work their green-fingered magic. Yet, for all of our zeal […]

]]>Winter is well and truly behind us and all over Australia people are getting into their gardens once more to work their green-fingered magic. Yet, for all of our zeal when it comes to all things botanical, sometimes we find that the results we reap are completely at odds with the amount of time, effort and cold hard cash that we throw into making our gardens perfect. If your attempts to make your garden shine this summer are not going as planned, it’s possible that all this time you’ve been making some mistakes that do more harm than good. Here are just a few of the things that, despite our good intentions, many of us are actually doing wrong…

Mowing the lawn

Let’s face it, as ornate and beautifully landscaped as our gardens may be, there are few things more beautiful than a perfectly manicured lawn. Yet, believe it or not many of us have been mowing the lawn wrong for years which is why it may be best to entrust your lawn care to a service like garden-r.com.au. Sometimes we may mow too early, creating shallow, weak roots which cannot protect themselves against the ravages of the sun. Sometimes our soil may be impacted which prevents grass from getting the nutrients it needs from the soil. In some cases the equipment we use prevents us from getting that perfect and even finish. There’s a whole lot more to the simple act of mowing the lawn than you may assume!

Using contaminated tools

If you’re a seasoned gardener you are likely very proud of your tools. You no doubt spent a great deal on making sure that you invested in the very best. However, your painstakingly chosen and reassuringly expensive tools may be doing your garden more harm than good. You see, when we dig in different areas or pots of soil with the same tool it can cause contamination as some soils may contain hidden pathogens. If you don’t clean your tools after use, you may find yourself transmitting pathogens from one plant to another.

Planting combinations

Sometimes we can all be guilty of planting some plants and flowers next to each other based on their aesthetic appeal. And while they may look great together, beneath the surface the plants may not ‘get along’ competing for water and nutrients in the soil. This is why companion planting is an important habit to get into, planting species that will share the space together effectively while still complimenting each other visually.

Over and under fertilising

In most cases, water alone isn’t enough to help a plant grow to its full potential. There are a range of fertilisers available whether you choose to compost your own or buy it from your local gardening centre. However, there is such a thing as too much. While many of us are guilty of under fertilising our plants we can just as easily find ourselves overdoing it. By rule of thumb you should aim to fertilise your plants once a week in warmer months and once a month in the cold.

When you break these bad habits a summer spent in a gorgeous garden is within your reach!

]]>http://thestylistsplash.com.au/4-things-you-might-be-doing-wrong-in-the-garden/feed/0180 Union Road Surrey Hills Househttp://thestylistsplash.com.au/180-union-road-surrey-hills-house/
Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:59:02 +0000http://thestylistsplash.com.au/?p=14439Another beautiful home has landed in my inbox and this time its 180 Union Road Surrey Hills in Melbourne Victoria. An avid fan of Est Living who showcase the most […]

]]>Another beautiful home has landed in my inbox and this time its 180 Union Road Surrey Hills in Melbourne Victoria. An avid fan of Est Living who showcase the most stunning homes, this one has me dreaming of moving and building.

180 Union Road has been completely revived for a new generation. But you wouldn’t expect anything less from the founder and design firm Beautiful Home.

Perfectly positioned to enjoy one of Melbourne’s most desirable neighbourhoods, this living legacy is just a short stroll to Surrey Hills station, schools and countless upmarket cafes – all set among the leafy local village. YES Please!!!

]]>Summer: Swim Seasonhttp://thestylistsplash.com.au/summer-swim-season/
http://thestylistsplash.com.au/summer-swim-season/#commentsMon, 22 Oct 2018 12:59:51 +0000http://thestylistsplash.com.au/?p=14437Summer is a fantastically sociable time with many opportunities to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle; from alfresco dining to stargazing or cuddling up in a snug corner of your garden to […]

]]>Summer is a fantastically sociable time with many opportunities to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle; from alfresco dining to stargazing or cuddling up in a snug corner of your garden to watch your favourite boxset on Netflix. Summer is a great time to be alive, and one of the best ways to embrace the summer sizzle is to start swimming.

Swimming in an outdoor pool is a great way to cool off, keep fit and relax after a tough day – yet, what’s even better than swimming in an outdoor pool is swimming in your own outdoor pool.

Having an outdoor pool in your own back garden not only encourages you to keep fit, but it also encourages your family to be active, as rather than sitting around playing computer games it’s much better to be running around the swimming pool – whether that’s playing water polo or simply wrestling with inflatable sharks… these are all activities to help keep your kids active whilst having fun – plus, an outdoor pool is a great social meeting place; meaning, you don’t need to keep spending loads of money on days out, when many kids are happy to invite a few friends around to enjoy the swimming pool on a hot day.

There are clearly many benefits to having your own swimming pool, yet the financial and logistical implications of installing an outdoor pool put many people off. This article therefore simplifies the process into three easy to manage steps.

With regard to financing your pool, there are some specific swimming pool loan providers that finance this purchase. The key consideration when it comes to splurging on a pool is to remember that a swimming pool adds value to your home and is an investment. After all, many people looking for their dream home would be drawn in by the lure of an outdoor swimming pool.

Here’s a brief step-by-step guide to installing your own pool:

DESIGN

The first factor to consider is size; this will be naturally constrained by how large your garden is, and the next factor to consider is depth which might also be constrained if you have children that will be using the swimming pool.

GET PERMISSION

In order to build a swimming pool you’ll almost certainly need to gain permission from the local authorities. Make sure you have this before undertaking any work, as it’s there for your protection (i.e. you don’t want to dig through a gas main or water pipe).

BUILDING AND LOGISTICS

The first step is to dig a huge hole! This sounds relatively simple, and it is pretty simple presuming you have the right equipment, as it’s certainly not something to tackle by hand.

You’ll then need to flatten the ground, as this will make building the walls and floor easier to lay and ensure you aren’t walking on a bumpy swimming pool floor.

The next step is to call in the professionals, in particular an electrician or a plumber such as JH Fox Plumbers to install the electrics required to power the pump and lights. It’s not worth attempting to DIY this aspect as the combination of electricity and water is clearly dangerous and not worth the risk.

The next step is to coat the floor and tile the walls, then, to fill the pool with fresh water along with a suitable bacterial agent.

]]>http://thestylistsplash.com.au/summer-swim-season/feed/1Red Hill South Spendourhttp://thestylistsplash.com.au/red-hill-south-spendour/
Fri, 19 Oct 2018 12:59:45 +0000http://thestylistsplash.com.au/?p=14425Its not often you come across a home that ticks all the boxes and you fall instantly in love. This beautiful home in Red Hill South Victoria has it all. […]

]]>Its not often you come across a home that ticks all the boxes and you fall instantly in love. This beautiful home in Red Hill South Victoria has it all. All in an amazing 16 acres, this home has been designed and built to the highest standards.

It boasts equestrian facilities including a full sized arena with geotextile surface, three custom stables, heated wash bay, tack room, laundry, bathroom and float storage are simply world class. Wow, my daughter and I would love this so much.

Six car garaging ( for the boys), 43kva 3 phase back-up generator, hydronic heating, air-conditioning, open fire places, and self-cleaning pool are just a snippet of the many outstanding features, you can check it out for yourself here at realestate.com.au.

So if you’re after this beautiful home, it can be yours for a cool 16+ million dollars.

]]>How To Design The Perfect Family Bathroomhttp://thestylistsplash.com.au/how-to-design-the-perfect-family-bathroom/
Sun, 14 Oct 2018 12:59:19 +0000http://thestylistsplash.com.au/?p=14421Family life can mean that various areas of your home need to be redesigned as they’re not family-friendly enough, and although expensive these redesigns are, for the most part, essential. […]

]]>Family life can mean that various areas of your home need to be redesigned as they’re not family-friendly enough, and although expensive these redesigns are, for the most part, essential. If you’ve got a young family, one area that you are most probably desperate to re-design is your bathroom, as bathrooms are one of the areas that often require the most work, as unless a family lived in your house before you, the chances are the space is not family-friendly at all.

The good news is that when it comes to designing a family-friendly space, it’s easier than you would think to design a bathroom that is ideal for family use. For a guide to everything that you need to know about designing the ideal family bathroom, below are some tips and ideas that you might like to take note of.

Steer clear of carpet

While it’s often unlikel that bathrooms will have carpet as flooring, it’s not completely unheard of, which is why it’s important to understand that carpet, water and kids don’t mix. Instead, what it’s important to do is ensure that your family bathroom has hard flooring that is waterproof and is designed to stand the test of time.

There are various options to choose from, it’s just a case of taking the time to carefully consider each one, and determine which equates to the best option overall. You need to consider factors such as safety – does the floor become slippery when it’s wet – and also price – is a certain flooring type affordable for you?

Ensure the walls are water-friendly

When planning bathroom renovations for a family-friendly space, it’s essential to take a range of features into consideration, such as things like the walls, for instance. When it comes to decorating the walls in your bathroom, it’s vital that you take the time to consider the materials that you are using and whether they are child-friendly.

What you need to consider is what the impact of the walls being splashed would be and how easy to wipe any paint or wallpaper that you use would be. An alternative option is to consider tiling the walls instead of opting to use paint or wallpaper on them, as this tends to be a much longer lasting and more family friendly option. The only issue is that it’s also often far more expensive.

Storage is a must

For family bathrooms, adequate storage space is a must. If you are going to ensure that your family bathroom remains neat and tidy and doesn’t end up in a cluttered mess, it’s vital that you take storage seriously.

If your bathroom doesn’t have adequate built-in storage space, it’s a good idea that you invest in some free-standing storage space, so that you can ensure that you have plenty of places to store any essentials that you might need for your bathroom to make sure that the space stays clear and clutter-free.

There you have it, everything that you need to know about designing the perfect family-friendly bathroom space.

]]>Weather Woes: Potential Damage That Adverse Weather Can Cause to Your Homehttp://thestylistsplash.com.au/weather-woes-potential-damage-that-adverse-weather-can-cause-to-your-home/
http://thestylistsplash.com.au/weather-woes-potential-damage-that-adverse-weather-can-cause-to-your-home/#commentsThu, 11 Oct 2018 12:59:22 +0000http://thestylistsplash.com.au/?p=14412Winter is magical- seeing snow on the ground, counting down to Christmas and getting cosy in the evenings is always nice. However, winter can present a whole lot of challenges […]

]]>Winter is magical- seeing snow on the ground, counting down to Christmas and getting cosy in the evenings is always nice. However, winter can present a whole lot of challenges when it comes to your home, here’s how you can stop the bad weather wreaking havoc.

Roof damage

Strong winds can blow roof tiles right off, leaving your home exposed to the elements. Snow and ice are also a massive worry for the roof during the colder months, water from ice melting on the roof becomes trapped and can creates an ice dam on the roof, as well as gutters and downspouts. The constant freezing and unfreezing can expand and contract tiles causing them to split and crack too. Since the roof is out of view, it can be difficult to spot problems until you’re already having issues as a result of the damage. It can be worth going up on a ladder every few months and giving it a check over to make sure that everything is as it should be.

Power cuts

Storms and bad weather can knock out power lines and mean that you’re left in the dark for hours- in some cases, it could even be days at a time. Having a backup source of power is always wise, especially if you’re in an area that’s commonly affected. A diesel generator can provide power in an emergency, you could also use a log burning fire to keep warm without the need for gas or electric heating.

Leaks

Leaks can be a result of the above issue, failures in the roof. They can also occur because of burst or damaged pipes, which can become cracked in freezing weather. A burst pipe can cause massive water damage in the home, but a leaking pipe can also wreak havoc. A slow leak is harder to spot, but can seep out in attics or under floorboards causing rot and damage. One way to assess if you have a slow leak is to take a look at your water meter. If it’s higher than it should be, or is ticking upwards even without any taps or appliances on then it’s a sign that it’s escaping from somewhere. A good plumber will be able to sort this for you, it’s also worth having an emergency plumber on speed dial just in case you end up with a burst pipe.

Black mould

Black mould will form anywhere that there’s damp and moisture. This can commonly occur in winter, as the outside temperatures are cold and any moisture in the air will condensate on cool walls and ceilings. From here, mould can thrive and it can be really bad for your health, as well as ruin your home’s decor. Fit extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom to get rid of excess moisture from things like cooking and showering. Aim to open your windows for thirty minutes every day, as well as let in fresh air and let out stale air, it will remove the trapped moisture and prevent mould from forming. Another way you can prevent is to keep your house warm, it can be worth setting your central heating to come on whenever the temperature drops below a certain level.